Palatine native an accomplished pianist

Kimberly Schmidt ~ 1950-2007

As a kid, Kimberly Schmidt studied dance until he fractured his collarbone, which forever changed his life.

During his recovery, his dance teacher closed her studio, so he decided to give the piano a try. Mr. Schmidt grew up to be an accomplished pianist. Applause followed him across the country at concert halls and solo recitals. It also followed him to St. James Catholic Church, where he quietly led the church's choir for years.

Mr. Schmidt -- a St. Viator High School graduate and Palatine native -- died on Friday in Cascade, Mich. He was 57 years old. According to family members, Mr. Schmidt thought he was dealing with a stubborn case of pneumonia most of the summer. During a recent hospital visit, he was diagnosed with an advanced stage of leukemia and died shortly afterward.

Arlington Heights resident Genevieve Gedraitis knew Mr. Schmidt for more than 25 years.

"He treated all with kindness, whether it was helping aged music colleagues, giving benefit concerts for various charitable organizations and/or encouraging young musicians," she said.

Besides the piano, Mr. Schmidt loved cooking, gardening and throwing parities for his friends, said another friend, Linda Dionesotes.

"He could throw a meal together at the drop of a hat," Dionesotes said. "He was the kind of cook who never had to measure anything or use a cookbook."

Throughout his life, Mr. Schmidt appeared in concert halls across the country in solo recital, concerti, chamber music and as an accompanist. After winning the Allied Arts Prize in Chicago, he made his debut there in Orchestra Hall. Prizes from the East-West Artists in New York and the Martin Musical Foundation in London led to recitals in Carnegie Recital Hall and the Wigmore Hall. His repertoire of concerti has ranged from Bach through Berg and Stravinsky, and includes both Brahms concerti. He also preformed at Ravinia in Highland Park.

Mr. Schmidt was born in Evanston but lived most of his life in Arlington Heights before moving to Michigan about five years ago to work with his brother, choreographer Gordon Peirce Schmidt. Most recently the two worked on the original ballet Tatyana for which Schmidt compiled, arranged and performed the solo piano score.

When he wasn't playing for packed crowds, Schmidt led the choir at St. James Catholic Church off and on from 1980 to 2000. He also taught piano lessons at the Arlington School of Music.

Mr. Schmidt is preceded in death by his father Richard Schmidt and his nephew Michael Schmidt.

Visitation will be from 4 to 9 p.m. on Friday at the Glueckert Funeral Home, 1520 N. Arlington Heights Road in Arlington Heights. Schmidt's funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday at St. James Church, 831 N. Arlington Heights Road.

Burial will be at St. Michael the Archangel Cemetery in Palatine.